Wow. I'm stunned at all of the horror stories posted about goats.
My pygmies were all females, with horns, and had virtually zero odor. Their poops were hard round pellets, like a deer, and seemed to just disappear into the ground. They never ever climbed out of, or even tried to climb out of, their animal wire fenced area. And in all the years I owned them, I never had to worm them even once. They were nice, happy, plump animals.
I think the key here may be to avoid billies at all possible costs, and just borrow one a couple times a year for breeding.
And, if a kid turns out to be a male, then castrate it pronto, and butcher it as soon as it reaches a decent weight (6 mos?), or sell it as soon as you can.
Funny story, my neighbor raised them, and then just before the Muslim Holy Days, he would advertise them in the paper as meat goats. One time, a man pulled up in a beautiful Lincoln Continental. He wanted to buy one to butcher himself for one of their feasts. He bought one, and I swear he tied its feet, and then picked it up and put it in the trunk of his Lincoln and drove off.
Mannyrock
